In line with its modernization plans, the U.S. Air Force has retired the last of its MC-12W Liberty special operations aircraft, a decision aimed at freeing up resources to be employed in the near future by the newest OA-1K Skyraider II light attack aircraft now being incorporated by the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC). This marks the end of a trajectory that began in 2009, with the arrival of the first aircraft at Key Field in Mississippi, which at the time raised doubts among U.S. military authorities since it would not be replaced by a direct successor.
Providing further details, AFSOC informed U.S. defense media last week that it had successfully decommissioned the last MC-12W Liberty aircraft still in service. Formally, the aircraft had already received their official retirement ceremony last month, in an event held at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base and hosted by the 137th Special Operations Wing, which is also working on training future pilots for the new OA-1K.
Looking back at its history, the MC-12W Liberty fleet was acquired at the direction of former Defense Secretary Robert Gates, at a time when there was a high demand for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) air platforms—particularly for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. In total, about 40 aircraft were acquired to form the fleet, which went on to log more than 50,725 flight hours across 2,501 combat sorties, participating in six operational theaters outside the U.S., with a strong emphasis on counterterrorism operations.
In terms of general characteristics, the aircraft was a Beechcraft King Air 350ER modified for ISR missions, without any integrated armament. Its dimensions were defined as a 17.65-meter wingspan, 14.22 meters in length, and 4.37 meters in height, with a maximum weight of over 16,500 pounds. Its range was approximately 2,400 nautical miles, and its crew consisted of 2 pilots, 1 combat systems officer, and 1 tactical systems operator. Each unit represented an investment of around $17 million for the U.S. Air Force.
Returning to the concerns over its replacement, U.S. reports indicate that although the USAF is moving forward with the formation of its new OA-1K Skyraider II fleet, some officials do not consider it a direct replacement for the MC-12W platform—nor for the U-28A Draco aircraft, which will soon share a similar fate. According to this view, the new platform was designed with a different mission in mind, focused more on light attack than ISR, making it a good complement but not a suitable substitute for the Liberty.
In recent presentations, AFSOC has indicated that its near-term plans to sustain ISR capabilities would rely on two main platforms: the U-28A and the modified Dash-8 aircraft currently in service. Far from introducing new models, the published slides suggest an intention to continue investing in both platforms for the remainder of their service lives, while integrating new sensors and capabilities to keep them updated.
Along these lines, it is worth citing the Government Accountability Office (GAO), which stated in a September 2024 report: “SOCOM plans to divest two ISR platforms. Subsequently, some personnel and resources from those platforms will be directed to support Armed Overwatch. However, GAO found that SOCOM has not taken steps to plan for or add critical ISR capabilities provided by the aircraft soon to be divested. In addition, SOCOM has not addressed the risks associated with losing these capabilities if the new aircraft does not provide them.”
Images used for illustrative purposes
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